Caitlin Cleveland

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I want to hear all about the fabulous commercials and promotional material that is all ready to go out across Canada and internationally so that we can attract people back right away with fabulous programs and really selling our NWT tourism operators, from Fort Smith right up to the Arctic Ocean. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act. Bill 20 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on November 4, 2020, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. On February 10, 2021, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill on March 2, 2021. Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, is ready for...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I really appreciate that because, while it's not a line item here, I think it's an opportunity for us to mitigate some costs down the road in some other line items. I appreciate that. Thank you.

I don't think I have to say too much to that. I think it's pretty obvious that there is some room for improvement. Mr. Speaker, I'm wondering what supports are available to NWT women to foster successful entrepreneurship, and are any new initiatives in the works for this year?

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I have similar questions about the MPR various contributions line item, which is contributions for the geological survey scientific research and mineral resources, so I am wondering if the Minister can speak to that. I do recognize that it has been two years now that that has been gone from the budget, but it did used to be a $626,000 investment in resource development. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. I am wondering if, to start, she can tell me what percent of NWT's small/medium business owners are women? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I notice that, under contributions, the Indigenous mineral development support program looks like it has a sunset of funding, and so I am just wondering if the Minister can tell us if that is found in another section or what has gone on there.

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to know some pretty incredible people who identify as women. I have met, learned from, worked with, and loved women who are change makers, trail blazers, creative geniuses, intellectual rock stars, and expert humans.

Monday is International Women's Day, and this year's international theme is Choose to Challenge. The constituency I serve is home to great change makers who choose to challenge: Myrna Pokiak, artist, mother, entrepreneur, and advocate for the NWT's business community; Cynthia Mufandedza, mother, entrepreneur, politician, and business and community...

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am going to switch over to commercial fisheries, please. I notice that there is an increase here in commercial fisheries over the last couple of years, and one of the things that I am wondering is: first of all, what does this increase -- oh, no, never mind; the increase was for before. It's a similar line item, then, to last year. I am wondering if the Minister can speak to any changes they are foreseeing in fisheries regulations for the upcoming fiscal year. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am wondering, given that a lot of the world is turning to virtual and that air travel is getting more expensive with fewer people travelling, if there has been conversation then around turning that into a virtual rather than an in-person interview. Thank you.